Tag: cats

Skout’s innovative line of Probiotic Grooming Products, was selected by the publication’s editors as the WINNER in the competitive Dog Skin & Coat category. The awards are featured in this month’s issue of Pet Business Magazine.

*Each product is available in Honeysuckle, Lavender and Unscented varieties, as well as in bulk sizes (gallons) for professional grooming service providers. Grooming professionals can receive a FREE full size sample of grooming products by filling out a Skout’s Honor PRO FORM here.

Why do Probiotics Matter for Grooming?
The skin’s natural microbiome serves as the first line of defense against allergens and opportunistic pathogens, responsible for a variety of conditions in pets, including excessive shedding, itching, dryness, hot spots and odor. When applied to the skin, probiotics offer soothing hydration and long-lasting odor control without negatively affecting the function of this vital protective layer for a naturally healthier-looking skin and coat.

Just like your gut, your skin can benefit from the right balance of bacteria. Marketing for soaps and hand sanitizers typically uses scorched-earth language, stuff like “Kills 99.99% of germs!” The idea being: Destroy all bacteria. But that might actually be bad for you—the way antibiotics disturb your body’s chemical makeup. Like your stomach, your skin has a delicate balance of bacteria called a “microbiome.”

“Our bodies are a symbiotic organism that rely heavily on their relationship with bacteria, inside and out,” says Julie E. Russak, MD, founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic. “We have more bacteria on our skin than we do in our body.”

Russak says that the skin microbiome protects us from invasive virus-causing pathogens and maintains the pH function of the skin. (That is, it prevents skin from getting too dry or too oily.) So how can we thwart the bad bacteria without offing the good stuff?

Apparently certain brands are rolling out “biome-friendly” products that specifically work to fortify the skin’s microbiome—like Mother Dirt, TULA, and even Clinique. They don’t necessarily contain live bacteria (though some do); instead, most contain “pre-biotics,” which stimulate the good stuff. Russak names lactic acid as one example: “It helps against acne and decreases inflammation in sensitive skin, thus restoring the barrier function of the skin, which helps with sensitive skin and eczema,” she says.

Here’s another way to look at it: Instead of an antibacterial approach (“Kill everything!”), these brands buttress the good stuff so that it’s strong enough to fend off the bad stuff on its own. (“Organize and resist!”) Another way to support your skin’s microbiome is to eliminate ingredients that kill the good microbes in the skin—these are typically the ingredients that preserve a product and thus give it a longer shelf life. So while you might sacrifice longevity on that cleanser, you make up for it by not sacrificing the healthy ecology that has effectively sustained humans for, I dunno, hundreds of thousands of years.

Your scalp and hair can benefit from a probiotic approach, too. A microbiome-friendly shampoo helps balance the oil production up top, meaning your hair gets less greasy…meaning you don’t have to shampoo as often. (This is a good thing, since shampoo strips your hair and scalp of its natural, healthy oils that keep them strong.) So, yeah, it’s a shampoo you buy so that you ultimately use shampoo less. Weird, I know, but it’s the same theory as a probiotic approach: Don’t kill the good with the bad! Preserve the good oils and increase your dependence on them, instead of stoking your repulsion to oil as a whole. You’ll have more good hair days because of it.

You can further benefit your skin and body’s microbiomes by maintain a pro-probiotic diet. “Include a wide variety of fresh, whole foods that will activate, replenish, and nourish your body,” says Russak. “And as long as you avoid common irritants such as processed foods, sugar, gluten, and dairy, your skin will thank you.” She also suggests eating foods like fermented organic veggies and fruits, as well as fermented yogurts (with live or active cultures) in moderation, though goat’s milk yogurt, coconut yogurt, and almond yogurt are good alternatives. And here’s one curveball: Russak “prescribes” sauerkraut as a source of many healthy live cultures, in addition to microbiome-friendly vitamins A, B, C, and K.

We’re excited to announce that Nordstrom has selected three of Skout’s Honor’s Better, Faster, Stronger cleaning products to be featured in their “Pop-In@Nordstrom Celebrates Year of the Dog” pop-up shop from Feb 16-March 25! If you’re lucky enough to live near one of the 8 locations where the Pop-In@Nordstrom is taking place, we hope you’ll drop in and check it out (see list of locations below).

This exclusive, limited-time shopping experience celebrates all things dog in honor of the Lunar New Year and 2018 being “Year of the Dog.” The shop features a wide assortment of exclusive apparel, accessories, toys, treats and surprises for dogs and the humans who love them. Curated by Olivia Kim, dog aficionado and Nordstrom vice president of Creative Projects, the shop will carry our:

Launched in October 2013, Pop-In@Nordstrom is an ongoing series of themed pop-up shops that transitions every four to six weeks to offer a new shopping experience and batch of new, often exclusive merchandise. Pop-In takes two forms: a shop curated around a theme featuring brands across different product categories (fashion, beauty, lifestyle, home/garden, sports/outdoors, etc.), or a partnership with a single brand to bring “the world of” to customers.

Pet specialty stores, especially high-quality independent pet stores, are growing increasingly more popular. Pet parents know that businesses that specialize in pet products are the most likely places to find the best foods, toys, and supplies for their animals. As a veteran of the independent pet retail industry, I’ve just about seen it all – and that said, here are the five most commonly asked questions people ask:

1. What’s the best pet food? This seems like an easy question, but it’s actually one of the hardest to answer honestly. Most pet store salespeople have their favorite foods to recommend; best-sellers or foods that have the highest ratings on sites like Amazon, Chewy.com, or DogFoodAdvisor.com. But the truth is that there’s no one “best” food. Some dogs do great on a kibble with quality ingredients, others thrive on a combination of canned and dry foods, while others require a diet reliant on whole or raw foods. A good pet store employee will take the time to ask you questions about your animal, their health history, your preferences and budget in order to help you determine what food is best for your pet.

2. Which food did I get last time? Many small pet specialty stores offer customer loyalty programs, and these can include helping you keep track of the foods you buy. If you have a hard time remembering what food your pet eats but don’t want to risk upset tummies due to a sudden switch, selecting a pet retailer who can help you keep track of your purchases is a great choice. Dogs and cats often benefit from rotating flavors (for example: beef one month, fish the next), but generally only when you’re sticking within the same brand for consistent quality, and comparable protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels.

3. Can you recommend a good…? Veterinarian? Groomer? Pet Hotel? Trainer? Dog Walker? Pet specialty stores are a perfect place to ask about related pet professionals and services. Most independent stores will keep the business cards of people or services they recommend, or else employees may have had experiences with the kinds of businesses you’re interested in.

4. What treats or toys do you recommend? Whether your dog is a power chewer, or your feline is fussy, there are a plethora of fantastic toys and treats in today’s pet specialty stores. Be sure to read labels and select chew toys or treats according to your pet’s size, life stage, and chewing or play preferences. Pet store employees usually have their own animals and can tell you what their pets have enjoyed and which treats or toys may not be appropriate for your fur-children.

5. What’s the best product for…? Flea control? De-shedding? Deodorizing? The answer to the last one is easy (hint: It’s Skout’s Honor!). Just as with food, treats, and toys, pet specialty retailers hear all about what is (and isn’t) working for their customers. Best-selling items are usually best-sellers for a good reason; even if a product is cheaper than the competition, people tend not to repeatedly purchase items that don’t meet their expectations. Finding out what the store’s employees use, and what their customers rave about is the easiest way to determine if a product is likely to meet your needs.

In the spirit of hope for a positive and prosperous New Year, it’s not uncommon for humans to make resolutions for themselves; in fact, according to www.statisticbrain.com 45% of people make New Year’s resolutions on a regular basis. But have you ever considered making resolutions for your pets?

More than half of all New Year’s resolutions are aimed at improving a person’s health and fitness, and it may be the same for your pet. According to Banfield Pet Hospitals, obesity is the #2 most common diagnosis for companion animals and obesity has a significant link to the rapid rise of Type 2 diabetes in the pet population. Helping your pet stay fit can greatly improve their quality of life.

– For best results, be sure to follow the feeding guidelines on your pet’s food and use a measuring cup or scale to ensure accuracy.
– Be conscientious of how many treats you offer, and investigate lower-calorie options if necessary. Many pet stores now offer a variety of specialty diets and treats to help you achieve this goal.
– Take longer or more frequent walks with your dog or play fetch as often as you can. If your dog is significantly arthritic or otherwise has trouble walking, explore opportunities to swim your dog or enroll in a pet physical therapy program that utilizes underwater treadmills for low-impact exercise.
– Encourage your felines to jump, climb, and chase by providing them with different play structures and cat trees, and tempting them with exciting toys. Even little changes can have a big impact on your pet’s health over time.

If you have any questions on helping your pet lose weight or concerns about improving their fitness, be sure to talk to your veterinarian.

Another popular resolution is to spend more time with the people (and pets!) who matter to you. We all get busy and bogged-down with day-to-day routines, but spontaneity is the spice of life! Find creative ways to include your furry friends in your activities.

– Invite friends with compatible animals over for play dates, or meet up at animal-friendly venues such as a dog parks or restaurants that offer a menu for the pups.
– At home, take little breaks from your routine to initiate play or even just relax with your pet. Petting an animal has been proven to lower your blood pressure and slow breathing, which is just as good for you as it is for them.

Whatever your resolutions for you and your pet may be, www.statisticsbrain.com says that, “People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.” Don’t be afraid to write your resolutions down, even if that just means scheduling a block of time once a week to do something positive with your animal.

“It is amazing how much love and laughter [our pets] bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” ― John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog

Happy New Year, friends!

About the AuthorSamantha Grant is a life-long animal lover. She has been a horse trainer, PATH, INT. certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor, animal nutritionist, and writer. Samantha, or “Sam” to her friends enjoys spending her free time playing with her animals, working around the ranch, and reading.

“Whether it’s bringing a new puppy home, adopting a rescue animal, behavioral or health-related issues, urine stains can be a real challenge for pet owners,” said Macon Brock, president of Skout’s Honor. “We’re pleased to be able to offer Mud Bay’s customers two of our best-selling items—these are absolutely the strongest cleaning products on the market that are easy to use and specifically designed to tackle even the worst dog and cat urine problems.”

Skout’s Honor is Better, Faster, Stronger than other leading products in its category, due to a proprietary odor eliminating technology and BioKore™ – a revolutionary green cleaning technology that breaks down and lifts away stains on contact. Both ingredients are biodegradable, bio-renewable and non-toxic – offering the most powerful and easy-to-use cleaning solutions on the market, while still being safe for use around pets, family and home.

The company’s eco-friendly approach to cleaning is coupled with a socially-conscious business model via its Skout’s Paw Pledge – a program that donates a day’s worth of food to a shelter animal with every product sold.

About Mud Bay

Founded in 1988 just outside of Olympia, Washington, Mud Bay is the Pacific Northwest’s largest retailer focused on healthy, natural nutrition for dogs and cats. With more than 40 locations in Washington and Oregon, Mud Bay is focused on providing wonderful shopping experiences for pets and their owners. For more information about Mud Bay, visit MudBay.com

Skout’s Honor products were featured on Pet Product TV as a powerful, green-cleaning solution to handle even the worst oet stain and odor problems. Hosts Robert Semrow of Pet World Insider and Pet Expert Sandy Robins spoke about our proprietary BioKore technology and the unique non-enzyme benefits it offers. Watch and learn more about why Skout’s products are Better, Faster and Stronger than the rest!